John w



(No Model.)

J; W. ALEXANDER;

A GAR GOUPLING.

No. 272,399.A

Patented Peb.2o,188s.-

miauw@ m UNIV'TED ,l .STATES APATEiwr OFFICE.

JOHN V. ALEXANDER, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

CARQCOUPLING.

I SPECIFICATYON forming part of Letters Patent No. 272,399, dated February 20, 1883.

Application tiled December 13, V1882. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN W. ALEXANDER,

a citizen of the United States, residingin the city, county, and'State of New York, have invented a new, useful, and Improved Method of Car-Coupling, a description of which is herein so fully, clearly, and concisely presented as t0 enable any one, by reference `to thc following specification and annexed drawings, to construct and properly manipulate the same.

The novelty of this my invention consists in original and peculiar arrangement, construc- .tion', and combination of the several elementary parts for car-couplin g, and has for its purpose a fourfold object, to wit: first, to provide a method whereby the constant dangerto life by hand-coupling is avoided; second, to furnish an effective and rapid means of coupling from the top or either side off the car, wher--Y ever the operator may chance to be; third, to avoid the frequent delays and accidents from breakage of the coupling-pin by substitution for the usual pin and link of a simple agency of greater tensile strength; and, fourth, to provide an extra means of coupling, should occasion demand, by combiningin the same drawhead with the present novel method facilities for the usual pin-and-link coupling.

Figure l is a front and side elevation, showing mechanism for coupling, as alsoaface view of the draw-head. Fig,2 is a longitudinal central vertical view in section of the draw-heads when coupled. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view of the draw-heads with catch E turned aside, while Fig. 4 is an end view of the draw-head and Fig. 5 a view ofthe draw-bar.

Each of the draw-heads B, made fast to its respective car in the usual place and manner, is provided with a beveled-edged opening at the top, extending downward to a distance nearlyto its center, as shown in Fig. 3. The

rear and anterior Walls of the excavation or pocket 'v are spherical in outline, while those of its two sides are perpendicular. The cavity thus formed has a-longitudinal extension considerably greater than in the opposite direction; but it is of snfleient width to easily receive the globe-shaped head of the drawbarE as it falls within, where the cavitys greater length permits its natural movement backward and forward in the line of motion of the cars. From the buffer or face end D of the draw-heads, Fig. 4, and extending likewise from the top downward to the depth of the cavity o, and opening into the same, is a passage, a, having an elongated or funnel-shaped mouth for the free and lateral play of the drawbar E when the cars are coupled and in motion. The lower half of the face end Dof each draw-head is also niortised or containsasock- 6o et, b, with a pin-hole, o, from above, Fig.V 2, passing through the space so made and out at the bottom of the draw-head, whereby provision is made for coupling with pin and link.

'We have then in the draw-head, as herein de- 65- scribed, two distinct and possible methodsV ot' coupling, in which temporary resort may be had to the familiar way of coupling by pin and link should the other and novel mode, as herein devised, through accident or in any con- 7o tingency, fail. Upon the top of the draw-head belonging to the car, to which is attached the media foi-operatingthedraw-barE, is placed arestor catch, C, of thin metal, 'fashioned as shown in Fig. 3, 75 and secured by the pivot or screw d in sufficient contact with the draw-head to firmlyire' tain its place thereon, and at the same time permit of its being turned aside by the projectin g thumb-piecee whenevcr,from any cause, 8c it is desired to dislodge or remove the head of the draw-bar from its bed beneath. By this Adevice the draw-bar, when raised and not in use, is always held in place at a certain angle and in a given direction, in readiness at the next coupling, in falling, by its own momentum, to drop its elevated spherical end into the receptacle provided in the opposite draw-head.

The coupling'rod and its globelike extremiy ties, which togetherconstitute the draw-bar E, 9o

Fig. 5, are made of iron or steel, in one casting.. 'The diameter of these spheres or halls relative to the proportions of the pocket provided in each of the draw-heads for their reception, ,as above described, is a little less the Width and a little more than half the length of the pocket. When the coupling is effected by means of this agency and the train is put in motion the'balls are forced into immediate .contact with the front walls of their receptaroo cles, where they are caught and rigidly held.

It is thus evident that the power applied to overcome theresistinginertia of the train must be sustained by the draw-barE throughoutits entire length, and that hence a far greater strain may be borne than in the ordinary p inand-link coupling, where it is exerted atasingle point only, transversely and not lengthwise.

The mechanism for operating the coupling or draw bar E in this invention consists of a shaft, F, extending, Fig. 1, across the front end of the carin a horizontal direction and supported in suitablebearings by the ear-pieces h, which are securely fastened to the sidesof the car. At each end of the shaft Fis provided a crank, m, for ready use in coupling from either side of the car. Connected with the crank for operating from the top of the car is the lever l, held in place b v its guide 7i', afiixed to the top or other part of the car.

The chain r, which, at its lower end, is attached to the draw-bar E at a point equidistant from its extremities, Fig. 1, and at its other end is fastened to the shaft F at a point likewise midway between its bearings h, serves to raise or lower the draw-bar E, and is of such length only as, when unwound from its shaft F by the act of coupling, permits the ball of the draw-bar to reach its pocket.

When a coupling is to be made the operator nds the crank m held at the angle shown in Fig. 1, which position, being` one within easy reach, it is made to assume by limiting the chain to such a lengththat it is drawn taut as soon as the draw-bar E, in uneoupling, comes in contact with its catch G. Nothing further then is required when the buffers of the opposing draw-heads meet than simply to lift or throw up the crank m with a suficient impulse to pass its center of gravity beyond the line of perpendicular, when byits own momentum, increased by the downward weightof the drawbar, it instantly falls, causing the chain to unwind from the revolving shaft F, and thus dcpositing the ball of the draw-bar E in its bed.

It is also evidentl that by A,reversing this movement the cars are as quickly and safely uncoupled, while at the same time the several parts regain their relative places, in readiness for future use.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'lhe combination,with a ear, A, of the drawliead B, having the construction and functions as herein shown, the sphere-headed draw-bar E, the pivoted catch (J, with thumb-piece e, chain 1', shaft F, with bearings in riveted earpieces h, crank m, and lever l, with guide lr, all substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

JOHN WESLEY ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

RoswELL W. KEENE, ALEXANDER F. WRIGHT. 

